More Progress For Six Pillars

September 18, 2002

For a while, it seemed like jumping from the drawing board into the construction phase of Hartford's Six Pillars of Progress would take forever. But lately there has been progress aplenty. On Oct. 22, ground will be broken for the first downtown Hartford housing project that will receive state money through the Capital City Economic Development Authority.

Trumbull on the Park -- 100 market-rate apartments fronting on Bushnell Park -- will soon be additional brick-and-mortar proof that Gov. John G. Rowland's downtown economic development program is picking up speed. Earlier this month, Capital Community College opened to record enrollment in the refurbished G. Fox building. Moreover, cranes are rolling into place to erect a huge, state-financed convention center at Adriaen's Landing.

Last week, the CCEDA board of directors approved $6 million of the state money set aside for the housing pillar to be used for Trumbull on the Park. It is one of four downtown housing proposals endorsed by the CCEDA board.

Housing is a key pillar because of its potential to reinvigorate downtown into a 24-hour-a-day neighborhood. Presuming final approval by the city and that the closing of a federal loan goes as planned, Trumbull on the Park will be the first of the four to get off the ground.

The housing component is part of developer Martin Kenny's and Lexington Partners' larger, $40 million Trumbull Centre project, which will include the apartments as well as retail space and a parking garage. Eighty-eight apartments will be located in a residential tower looking out on Bushnell Park and 12 units will be fashioned in historically designed buildings along Lewis Street.

Legitimate design concerns about the ground level of the parking garage on Lewis Street have only been partially resolved. There will be display windows, awnings and flower boxes. It should be a more attractive and hospitable building when retail space is opened on the ground floor of the garage.

While the green flag for Trumbull Centre has been hoisted, the other three housing projects are still in the design phase.

Developer Richard Cohen's ``Meetinghouse Square'' concept on the west side of Adriaen's Landing is ``coming together,'' according to CCEDA Executive Director Brendan Fox. Northland Investment Corp. is still going through the snail's-pace planning process at city hall and has made some design modifications in its plans for the huge makeover of the Civic Center, featuring a high-rise apartment tower. Developer Marc Levine and his partners face an Oct. 31 deadline to get financing for housing at the Sage-Allen site on Main Street or CCEDA would be justified to entertain other proposals for that location.

Groundbreaking for Trumbull on the Park whets the appetite for quicker action with regard to the other three proposals.